First Great Western has dropped the £1 booking fee and £3 journey charge for cycles. The decision follows research on travel requirements and discussions with cycling groups.

The Government says three of the 25 franchised train operators carry bicycles on all services without requiring prior reservation; six carry bikes on all their services but require prior reservation; one does not require prior reservation but restricts bicycles to off-peak times. The remaining 15 require both prior reservation and restrict bicycles to off-peak times only.

The franchise agreements governing passenger rail services require franchised train operators to ‘so far as reasonably practicable and subject to the availability of appropriate space on its rolling stock, ensure that facilities for the transport of bicycles on trains are made available, at reasonable charges (if any), to passengers using or intending to use the Passenger Service.’

The Strategic Rail Authority has recently carried out a consultation of cycle policy, which was criticised by cycling organisations. It will be publishing a detailed cycle policy in due course.